NBC picked up anthology series "Love Bites," [5] comedy "Outsourced" (left) and dramatic thriller "The Event" for the 2010-11 season, Angela Bromstad announced Friday.
"Each of these three series reflects a unique point of view and distinct style of quality that fits perfectly with NBC’s dedication to rebuilding the schedule," Bromstad, president of primetime entertainment for NBC and Universal Media Studios, said in a statement. "These series showcase excellent writing and casting, and represent the kind of scripted programming our network and studio are committed to producing."
From "Sex and the City" writer-producer Cindy Chupack and Working Title TV in association with Universal Media Studios, "Love Bites” is an hourlong romantic comedy anthology series featuring three loosely connected, modern stories of love, sex, marriage and dating. Becki Newton and Jordana Spiro are series regulars anchoring the story, with "other romantically challenged characters" each week played by guest stars including Jennifer Love Hewitt, Greg Grunberg, Craig Robinson, Jason Lewis and Charlyne Yi.
"The Event" is a high-octane conspiracy thriller that follows Sean Walker (Jason Ritter, right), an Everyman as he investigates the mysterious disappearance of his fiancée, Leila (Sarah Roemer), and unwittingly begins to expose the biggest coverup in U.S. history. Blair Underwood plays newly elected U.S. President Martinez.
“The Event” is a production of Universal Media Studios and Steve Stark Productions. Stark (“Medium,” “Facing Kate”) serves as executive producer, Nick Wauters ("The 4400," "Eureka") is creator/co-executive producer and Jeffrey Reiner (“Friday Night Lights,” “Trauma”) is the director/executive producer.
“Outsourced” is a comedy where the Midwest meets the exotic East in a hilarious culture clash. All-American company Mid America Novelties sells whoopee cushions, foam fingers and wallets made of bacon -- and its call center has suddenly been outsourced to India. Ben Rappaport plays the manager who learns he’s being transferred to India to run the operation. He soon learns that his new staff needs a crash course in all things American, while realizing that figuring out India will be more than a full-time job for him. Rizwan Manji (“Privileged”), Sacha Dhawan (BBC’s “Five Days II”), Rebecca Hazlewood (BBC’s “Doctors”), Parvesh Cheena (“Help Me Help You”) and Anisha Nagarajan (Broadway’s “Bombay Dreams”) co-star along with Diedrich Bader (“The Drew Carey Show”) and Jessica Gower (Network Ten’s “The Secret Life of Us”).
“Outsourced” is produced by Universal Media Studios. Robert Borden (“The Drew Carey Show,” “George Lopez") is executive producer/writer. Ken Kwapis (“The Office”) developed the project through his company, In Cahoots, and serves as executive producer/director. Alex Beattie is co-executive producer.